Holder for surface cleaning means



March 25, 1958 J. V. RIZK HOLDER FOR SURFACE CLEANING MEANS 'Filed oct. 6. 1955 James V. Rizk IN V EN TOR. Y

BY man.

United States Patent F HOLDER FOR SURFACE CLEANING MEANS James V. Rizk, Gainesville, Fla.

Application October 6, 1955, Serial No. 538,895

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-210) The present invention relates to manually manipulable surface cleaning implements generally construed, and has reference in particular to a novel and easy-to-handle automobile or equivalent surface cleaning, polishing and washing implement which may be used and maneuvered to reduced laborious eort and to economize on time in a practical and advantageous manner.

To simplify the presentation and understanding of the invention, it will be conveniently classed as in the same category as washing, cleaning, waxing and polishing cloths, Sponges, pads and the like. As a matter of fact, the invention in its preferred embodiment contemplates the use of a flannel or equivalent bag or envelope and holding and maneuvering means therefor, the latter being characterized by a sponge, a rubber sponge, for example, which latter is usable alone or in combination with the cloth envelope, all in a manner to be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed.

More specifically, the object of the invention is not only to improve, structurally and functionally, on similar prior art adaptations, but to provide a simple, practical and enonomical implement which when properly handled will serve to take the work, so to speak, out of cleaning and waxing automobile and equivalent surfaces, this because of the fact that the implement is characterized by permanent magnets which attract and hold the surface contacting media against the Work surface and reduce, in fact, sometimes substantially eliminate, the downward pressure usually applied by the individual using the implement.

Stated otherwise, it is an object of the invention to provide a holder which includes a backing member or base and sponge, cloth or the like held thereon, permanent magnets being attached thereto and cooperating therewith so that the only movement required in the use of the implement is a back and forward stroke simply guiding the surface contacting agent over the area to be cleaned or waxed.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, the base or backing member is preferably of flexibly resilient rubber. A foam or equivalent rubber block serves not only as a sponge, as such, but as a cushion when the cloth envelope is fitted thereover whereby to provide a practical cleaning and waxing pad.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

in the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a holder and surface cleaning means in keeping with the requirements of the instant concept;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view on the lengthwise section line 2 2 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the holder is character- Patented Mar. 2 5, 1958 ice 2 ized primarily by a part or unit which may be referred to conveniently as either a base or backing member. In fact, it serves as both a base and a backing member and in practice it is preferably of flexibly resilient rubber.

It is denoted .by the numeral 4 and is in the form of ,a tray havinga bottom 6 and a marginal rim or upstanding wall 8. Provided at suitable and longitudinally spaced points are vrtransverse slots 10 which assist in locating and positioning complemental portions (Figs. 2 and '3) of the embedded permanent Alnico magnets, 12, Thus constructed makes its possible for a user to stick the magnet-equipped side of the device on a metal surface to be suspended thereon when not momentarily or otherwise in use. For example, in applying soapy water, a Vcleansing agent or polish, one may simply want to hang the device up, as it were, and alll that is necessary, is to apply it against the surfaceand the devicewill be appropriately and handily suspended. Although the views of the Vdrawings show the cloth bag c-r envelope 11 in place as a covering, it will be understood that this may be slid olf, whenever necessary or desired. The foam or equivalent rubber sponge is denoted by the numeral 14 and this is a more or less conventional type which is fitted and glued or otherwise anchored and fastened in the receptacle portion of the tray-like base or holder 4. This is brought out in the drawings particularly in Figures 2 and 3. Any thickness of sponge may be utilized. Naturally, the thinner the sponge the more effective will be the effectiveness of the magnetic field which is allowed to pass through the sponge when the sponge itself, without the bag or covering is in direct contact with the surface to be cleaned or polished. Thus, when the device is normally in use and with the sponge in contact with the automobile or equivalent surface, the magnetic forces play against said surface and by way of the sponge and virtually cause the over-all implement to hug the surface with sufficient tenacity so that all that is necessary is to catch hold of the implement lightly and move it around either in back and forth strokes or in circular paths whichever way the user commonly carries out his surface cleaning and polishing job.

The sponge-equipped magnetically held holder can be slipped into the bag or the bag fitted thereover, to occupy the enveloping position illustrated in the drawings. Then the sponge becomes a cushion and the cooperating surfaces of the bag cooperate therewith in providing the desired cushioning properties facilitating the use of the bag as a surface polishing agent. Here again, the magnetic forces pass through the bag and facilitate its handling and use. In this connection, the wall or portion 16 of the bag seen in Figure 3 is the remote wall while the other opposed wall or surface 18 is the one closest to the magnetic forces and, of course, experience and use will be the guiding factor in enabling one to best handle these available cleaning, waxing and polishing facilities.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is Ias follows:

l. A manually applicable and maneuverable surface cleaning and conditioning implement comprising a sponge of a size and shape that it may be held in contact with and moved in whatever manner necessary over the surface which is to be cleaned and otherwise conditioned, a nonmagnetic flexibility resilient backing super-imposed on and attached to one side of said sponge to assist -a user in satisfactorily catching hold of the backing and utilizing the therein, 'and at least one permanent magnet operatively mounted onV and carried by said backing and havingV at least a portion thereof extending into the cooperating slot, said magnetbeing interposed .betweenoneside of the backing and an adjacent portion ofthe sponge, Y

2. A manually. applicable. and maneuyerable surface sponging Vand cleaning implement comprising a exibly resilient backing Yprovided with a plurality of slots, said backing being provided marginally'with lateral flanges combining with the backing and providing a tray-like holder for a sponge, a sponge having a portion fitted into the holder and attached to the backing and carried bythe backing, a pluralityY of permanent magnets attached to the backing and located between one side thereof and an adjacent side of the sponge, said magnets being lined up with the backing and located between one side thereof and an adjacent side of the sponge, said magnets being lined up with their respective slots, and in combination, an openended cloth bag, usable as a polishing cloth, said implement being tted in and substantially encased by said bag and removable from the bag by way of an open end of the bag. I Y

References Cited in the of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,820,256 Stewart Aug. 25, 1931 2,171,721 Bingell Sept. 5, 1939 2,507,559 v DAndrea May 16, 1950 2,634,444 Coleman fApr.,14, 1953 2,666,352 Philips Ian. 1'9, 1954 

